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TESTIMONIAL: Sussex Cricket Combined Appeal 2013 launched

11-Feb-2013

Sussex County Cricket Club have announced that this season’s testimonial has been awarded to the two Sussex CCC charities, the Sussex Cricket in the Community Trust (SCCT) and the Sussex Cricket, Museum and Educational Trust (SCMET), who have joined forces to create the Sussex Cricket Combined Appeal 2013 to raise vital funds for these local cricket based charities.

Bryan Bedson, who is the Chairman of the Appeal Committee said, “This is a very exciting opportunity for Sussex Cricket and the money raised will be spent in three separate ways:

1. On Cricket in the Community projects including Street20 cricket, played across the County, and Disability Cricket. Annually, Sussex Cricket runs a very successful Disability Cricket Day at Hove which sees over 400 disabled children come to The BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground to play various forms of cricket, and our Visually Impaired Team are also the County Champions.

2. At the Sutton Winson Academy Ground at Blackstone where we have developed a unique facility, with two grounds where the County’s entire Youth cricket is played. It is good at the moment but we aim to make it world class with extensions to the playing facilities, a drainage project, state of the art machinery and top class grass nets.

3. In the Museum at Hove, where we are working to develop the most exciting Cricket Museum in the country and are aiming to purchase a series of interactive exhibits for educational and entertainment purposes.”

The appeal is particularly pertinent in 2013, with this year being not only the 10th anniversary of Sussex’s historic inaugural County Championship victory, but also the 50th Anniversary of the County winning the first ever one day competition, with the historic win against Worcestershire at Lord’s in the first ever Gillette Cup. The Australians will also be visiting Hove for a prestigious Tour Match for what will be one of the highlights of an exciting summer.

The patrons of the appeal have been confirmed as the former England wicketkeeper batsman and Sussex icon Jim Parks, former Sussex captain Michael Yardy, who is a graduate of the Sussex youth programme and a World T20 Winner with England, and Holly Colvin, Sussex Women’s Captain who is currently representing England in the World Cup in India and at the age of just 15 played in an Ashes Test match at Hove.

The Appeal Committee has planned an exciting programme of events throughout 2013, with the Launch Event taking place at The Grand Hotel in Brighton on Friday 8th March with England selector Geoff Miller as the guest speaker. Fashion guru Wayne Hemingway will also unveil the tie that he has designed for the Appeal at the event.

Sussex Chairman Jim May said, “The Combined Charities Appeal is very important in helping our two cricket charities develop their good work. I trust that the supporters of Sussex Cricket will support the events to help our volunteers with these two worthy causes.”